Silicon-Based Bulk Nanostructured Thermoelectric Generators

State-of-the-art thermoelectric generators are typically based on exotic alloys and have low device efficiencies.  Therefore, research targeting new discoveries in earth abundant thermoelectric materials that increase device efficiency are needed.  This talk will present recent progress on bulk nanostructured thermoelectric materials that are silicon-based. These include functional silicon nanowire devices and silicide/silicon eutectics.  These bulk nanostructured thermoelectric devices exploit dramatic reductions of thermal conductivity due to phonon scattering at disordered interfaces, which is expected to increase ZT.  Thermoelectric properties, structural characterization, and device efficiencies will be presented.